Page to Screen to Place: An Australian Children's and YA Lit Travel Quiz
With Australian Children's Book Week coming up, it's the perfect time to celebrate the stories that have captured generations of readers and also inspire us to explore the real places behind the pages.
For this trivia game, we're travelling from page to screen to place. The questions explore Australian children's and YA literature, the film and television adaptations that brought these stories to new audiences, and the real locations that make these adventures feel close enough to visit.
So grab a pencil, test your memory, and see how many Australian stories you can connect with the places waiting to be explored.
1. Which Victorian landmark became almost as famous as the stories that inspired Round the Twist?
A. Cape Otway Lighthouse
B. Split Point Lighthouse
C. Cape Schanck Lighthouse
D. Point Lonsdale Lighthouse
Reveal Answer
Split Point Lighthouse
Worth the trip: Better known as the Round the Twist lighthouse, Split Point sits near Aireys Inlet on the Great Ocean Road and is open for guided tours.
2. Which spectacular South Australian wetland became the unforgettable setting for Storm Boy?
Reveal Answer
The Coorong
Worth the trip: Stretching more than 130 km, the Coorong is one of Australia's great wildlife destinations, famous for pelicans, migratory birds and scenic cruises.
3. Which Western Australian town is widely regarded as one of the inspirations for the fictional coastal home of Lockie Leonard?
A. Broome
B. Esperance
C. Albany
D. Geraldton
Reveal Answer
Albany
Worth the trip: Between whale watching, dramatic granite cliffs and beautiful beaches, Albany is an unforgettable stop on a Western Australian road trip.
Looking out into the Hunter Valley near Sydney. Can you spot the kangaroos?
4. Which Australian YA novel follows a group of teenagers returning from a camping trip to find their country under invasion?
A. Looking for Alibrandi
B. Tomorrow, When the War Began
C. Lockie Leonard
D. Jasper Jones
Reveal Answer
Tomorrow, When the War Began
Worth the trip: Many scenes from the film were shot around regional New South Wales, showcasing landscapes that feel unmistakably Australian.
5. Although Playing Beatie Bow is set in Sydney's historic Rocks district, a detailed recreation of 1873 Sydney was actually built in which Australian city?
A. Melbourne
B. Hobart
C. Adelaide
D. Perth
Reveal Answer
Adelaide
Worth the trip: The filmmakers built an enormous replica of The Rocks on a backlot at the South Australian Film Corporation, creating one of Australia's most ambitious movie sets.
6. Which Australian city was one of the principal filming locations for the film adaptation of Hating Alison Ahsley?
A. Melbourne
B. Sydney
C. Perth
D. Dubbo
Reveal Answer
Melbourne
Worth the trip: The world's largest suspended stained-glass ceiling is located in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne.
7. Which Australian landscape forms the backdrop to Dot and the Kangaroo?
A. The Outback
B. The Snowy Mountains
C. The Australian bush
D. The Great Barrier Reef
Reveal Answer
The Australian bush
Worth the trip: Wander through the eucalyptus forests of places like the Blue Mountains and it's easy to imagine Dot's adventures among Australia's native wildlife.
One of the 100+ beaches around Sydney. Can you see the city skyline in the background?
8. In Possum Magic, Hush and Poss travel around Australia tasting iconic Australian foods. Name ANY TWO foods that Hush and Poss experienced.
Reveal Answer
Possible answers:
Anzac biscuits (Adelaide)
Mornay and Minties (Melbourne)
Steak and salad (Sydney)
Pumpkin scones (Brisbane)
Vegemite sandwich (Darwin)
Pavlova (Perth)
Lamington (Hobart)
Worth the trip: Hush and Poss's adventure is a delicious journey through Australia's capital cities, making it the perfect inspiration for an Australian foodie road trip.
9. Which Australian city provides the backdrop for both the novel and film Looking for Alibrandi?
A. Melbourne
B. Adelaide
C. Sydney
D. Perth
Reveal Answer
Sydney
Worth the trip: You can still explore the delicious Italian cafés and bakeries around Leichhardt.
10. The Final Page: Every destination in today's quiz began as an idea on a page. How many of the Australian authors behind those stories can you name? One point for each author.
Reveal Answer
Score: 1 point for each correct author (9 points maximum).
Round the Twist: Paul Jennings
Storm Boy: Colin Thiele
Lockie Leonard: Tim Winton
Tomorrow, When the War Began: John Marsden
Playing Beatie Bow: Ruth Park
Hating Alison Ashley: Robin Klein
Dot and the Kangaroo: Ethel Pedley
Possum Magic: Mem Fox
Looking for Alibrandi: Melina Marchetta
Did you enjoy this walk down memory lane? Did you get a few answers right, and maybe discover a few new places along the way?
We take our travel inspiration from all kinds of unexpected places: films, literature, television, podcasts, and yes, even YouTube videos. Sometimes a story we loved years ago can be the thing that sends us exploring somewhere new.
Hopefully this trivia game has inspired you to look at Australian destinations a little differently, and perhaps add a new place, book or adventure to your future travel list.
